MSMQ in Cluster Server (Windows 2003)

Question

I am installing MSMQ in a cluster environment. I installed MSMQ on the Active and Passive servers, and changed the MSMQ path on both servers to the shared physical drive resource (specified in cluster administrator). I then created the MSMQ cluster resource. On the active node I open Computer Management, and I cannot see MSMQ. Is this how MSMQ functions in a cluster? After I add the journaling mailbox to EX Admin, messages are pulled from the journaling mailbox, but then I get an error message that the messages could not be added to the archive and put into the Bad Dir. I then move the messages from the Bad Dir to the Drop directory in Inetpub\Mailroot and the message is processed with no problems. If you have any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it.

Thoppay · Answer

Couple of things to watch out for while doing MSMQ on cluster.

1. Need to install MSMQ only after clustering is done. If already installed, you need to remove & install it again.

2. To manage, you need to connect to virtual server in computer management or use Active directory users and computers. Browse the virtual server name, right click on it & select manage.

3. MSMQ path should be on shared disk resource.

4. MSDTC resource also should be available?

kauanoee · Answer

Thanks for your advice. I saw the article in Microsoft and followed the instructions. I am currently trying to add the component resource for Computer Management so that I can view the queues...however, I cannot bring the resource online (Generic Application). I am rebooting the servers now to see if it comes online, but may need to do an uninstall and reinstall.

kauanoee · Answer

OK...so I did a complete uninstall of EX and MSMQ from both nodes and rebooted the servers. Installed MSMQ and then added the MSMQ resource to Cluster Administrator per the instructions. When I brought it online, the MSMQ folder was created on the physical disk. What I did wrong the first time was before adding the MSMQ resource I changed the path of the storage on each server to the shared physical drive (knowing that it needed to be shared eventually). Once I did that (and installed EX with resources), journaling worked perfect. I still have issues visually seeing MSMQ in Computer Management (and I added the Computer Management as a generic application resource), but that is only a minor glitch as long as archiving properly.

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MSMQ in Cluster Server (Windows 2003)

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